Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Barry My experience is that when the goalkeeper had possession of the ball there is no desire on behalf of the opponents to contest a dropped ball particularly when all that happens is the ball is given back. So in those dropped ball situations all that happens is that the DB brings the play back to where the game was when play was stopped. Now if a team wants to contest the DB the referee has no power to prevent that contest which is what the Laws state. In the WC game with no opponent looking to participate in the dropped ball the referee simply dropped the ball and play continued. The fact there was no opponent there meant that the referee had no part nor decision to make who contested the DB.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Barry, it is not recommended to stop play while the keeper is in possession of the ball as it INVITES the potential for confrontation. As you correctly point out nothing to stop the opposition from contesting the drop. Yet as you also point out it can occur for certain reasons.

That said, Fair Play conduct. Teams understands in principle to just walk away and forget about it.

You as referee simply drop the ball, nothing says you HAVE To whistle a heads up or invite, just outstretch the hand and turn it over.

ONLY if you physically intervened preventing a participation could it be wrong! Cheers

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